Illuminated key cases



PYH 9, m58 P. A. FRiGoN 3,377,475

ILLUMINATED KEY CASES Filed Sept. 16, 1965 INVENTOR, PAUL A. FRIGON 38 ATTORNEY 3,37'L475 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 3,377,475 ILLUMINATED KEY CASES Paul A. Frigon, Southbridge, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 487,758 4 Claims. (Cl. 24U-6.45)

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A hard yshell key case containing a pushbutton operated flashlight and having an opening in the shell thereof aligned with the flashlight button. A flexible case covering is extended over the opening wherein operation of the flashlight may be effected by indention of the covering into the opening against the flashlight button.

This invention relates to key cases and has particular reference to an improved combination key case and flashlight.

An object of the invention is to provide improvements in flashlight key cases which render such cases simple and economical to manufacture and of greater than usual utilitarian as well as aesthetic value.

To attain the aforesaid object and others which may appear from the following detailed description, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, I provide a rigid or hard shell key case containing a flashlight having a pushbulton light switch.

Operation of the flashlight from outside the case is effected through the provision of a hole in the shell of the case over which there is extended a covering of flexible plastic, leather or other similar case covering sheet material. The covered hole thus provides a soft spot in the case into which the flexible covering can be indented when pressed with a finger. This soft spot is aligned with the flashlight switch button so that, upon such indentation of the case covering, the button becomes engaged thereby and depressed to activate the flashlight. Removal of the finger from the soft spot, accordingly, releases the switch button which, being biased in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter, returns to its initial position to deactivate the flashlight.

It will become apparent hereinafter that the key case is adapted to be opened to provide access to keys and/or other items contained therein at lwhich time the flashlight switch button is exposed and may be operated independently of the aforementioned soft spot. However, with the case in its usual closed condition, the flashlight is additionally adapted to ybe actuated with a touch of the soft spot and, accordingly, is available at all times for general purpose use or for illuminating keyholes.

The smooth exterior surface of the case not only conceals the flashlight button for the sake of improving the general appearance of the case but, `since the button does not protrude above the surface of the case, it prevents accidental activation of the flashlight and snagging in the pockets of apparel or hand bags when carried therein.

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description which is accompanied by a drawing in which:

FIG. l illustrates, in elevation, an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the improved key case of my invention wherein the case is illustrated as being closed;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the interior of the case wherein the case is illustrated as being opened; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken rgenerally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, key case 10 comprises a complementary pair of shells 12 and 14 of substantially identical size and shape which are hinged together by leaf hinge 16 for swinging from and toward each other to permit opening and closing of the case. Shells 12 and 14 are preferably trayshaped and include opposing rim portions 18 and 20 respectively which are brought into edge-to-edge engagement when case 10 is closed so as to form compartment 22 (see FIG. 4). Compartment 22 is of a depth equal to the sum of the depths of the two shells.

Leaf hinge 16 is provided with torsion spring 24 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) which surrounds pintel 26 having its opposite ends engaging leaves 28 of hinge 16 to normally urge case 10 to open position. The case is held closed against the action of spring 24 by a conventional spring catch 30 carried by shell 14 and hook 32 on shell 12 over which catch 30 is adapted to latch when the two are brought together. Alternatively, hinge 16 may be controlled by an overriding =bow spring (not shown) by which the case is releasably held in Aboth closed and open position in a well-known manner. This latter arrangement obviates the need for catch 30l and hook 32. It is, however, immaterial to this invention as to which means is employed to hold case 10 closed.

Shells 12 and 14 each comprise a stiff or rigid body member 34 (see FIG. 4) formed of pressed sheet metal or a moulded hard plastic or -fibrous material and are each covered at least externally with a thin covering 36 of flexible plastic, leather, fabric or an equivalent case covering material. Coverings 36 are preferably but not necessarily carried over rim portions 18 and 20. Lining 38 may be provided interiorly of case 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to conceal hinge 16 and raw edges of coverings 36 or, alternatively, the case interior may be flocked, spray painted or otherwise decorated.

Rim portions 18 and 20 are each formed with an elongated notch 4U and 42 respectively which, when case 10 is closed, are opposed to form an elongated opening 44 along one end or top of the case (seePIG. 2). Immediately below notch 42, key hanger 46 is securely fastened to the interior side of shell 14 by any suitable conventional means such as tabs 47 struck from body member 34 or rivets (not shown). Hanger 46 extends longitudinally from the outer-most end of notch 42 toward the hinged side of shell 14 only partially across the full length of notch 42. The uppermost edge of hanger 46 is sufficiently close to notch 42 to fill and close a substantial portion of opening 44 when the case is closed. Key bails or loops 48 are each pivotally mounted on hanger 46 so that they may be individually swung approximately from a position against the inner side of shell 14 to a position where they extend away from the top of case 10 as does loop 43 shown in FIG. 3. This positioning of key loops 48, of course, can only be effected when case 10 is open as illustrated in FIG. 3. However, the case may be closed with one or more of loops 48 in either one or the other of the aforementioned positions. Thus, a selected key may remain outwardly of case 10 and available for use when the case is closed.

Fastened to the same shell 14 is flashlight 50 having a light-emitting one end 52 of such size, shape and disposition relative to notch 42 as to substantially fill and close the portion of opening 44 not occupied by key hanger 46 when the case is closed. End 52 of flashlight 50 is exposed .by opening 44 when the Case is closed and by notch 42 when the case is opened so that light can be emitted therefrom at any desired time whether the case is closed or open.

Flashlight 50 is illustrated in FIG. 4 as being fastened to body member 34 of shell 14 by tab 54 which is struck from member 34. Other suitable means such as rivets and/ or cement may be employed for this purpose. FlaShlight 50 comprises base 54 and removable cover 56 both moulded or otherwise formed of a suitable rigid plastic or an equivalent electrical insulating material. Internal compartments 58 and 60 formed between base S4'and cover 56 contain flashlight bulb or lamp 62 and battery 64 respectively. Battery 64, in the particular embodiment herein illustrated, comprises a single wafer-type alkaline dry cell. Electrical connection between the center terminal of lamp 62 and one side of terminal of battery 64 is made by wire 66. The opposite side of battery 64 is engaged by internal edge 57 of cover 56 which holds battery 64 in a fixed position in base 54 rmly against wire 66. The circuit for energizing lamp 62 is completed by strip 68 of resilient electrical conducting material arranged to have one of its ends permanently in contact with the onter terminal or metallic base of lamp 62. The opposite end of strip 68 is adapted to be selectively depressed, as a switch, into contact with the opposite side or terminal f `battery 64. Strip 68 is cantilevered over bridge 70 formed between compartments 58 and 60 to a position where its free end 72 is normally biased out of contact with battery 64. In such condtion the flashlight is, accordingly, not activated. Switch button 74 is moulded, press fitted, cemented or otherwise fixed upon end 72 of strip 68 and is arranged to extend laterally away from flashlight 50 through an appropriate opening in cover 56 to a point immediately adjacent the inner side of shell 12 when case is closed. Having shoulder 75, however, button 74 is prevented from movement completely outwardly through cover 56 and, accordingly, may be merely placed in contact with end 72 of strip 68 rather than being fixed thereupon as just mentioned. Depression of button 74 (i.e. movement 72 of strip 68 to contact battery 64 thus completing the electrical circuit through the flashligh system to energize lamp 62. Thereupon, light is directed outwardly from end 52 of flashlight 50 through opening 44. Release of button 74 allows the cantilevered portion of strip 68 to return end 72 thereof to its normal position out of contact with battery 64 whereupon flashlight 56 becomes deactivated. Flashlight is, accordingly, pushbutton operated in such manner that when button 74 is depressed the flashlight is activated and when button 74 is released or allowed to. remain in its normal position the flashlight is deactivated.

It should be obvious that switch button 74 can be 0perated directly when case 10 is opened as illustrated in FIG. 3. As a feature of the present invention, however, provision is made for operating flashlight 50 when case 10 is closed. To accomplish this, hole 76 is formed in body member 34 of shell 12 before the shell is covered with the material of covering 36 and/or lining 38. Hole 76 is of slightly larger diameter than button 74 and is so positioned in shell 12 as to become aligned with button 74 when shells 12 and 14 of case 10 are closed.

With covering 36 in place externally of shell 12, hole 76, provides a soft spot in shell 12 into which covering 36, being flexible, may be indented with a finger so as to engage button 74 and depress the button sufliciently to activate flashlight 50. Removal of the finger from the soft spot in shell 12 releases button 74 which then, as mentioned above, returns to its normal position to deactivate flashlight 50. The spring tension of strip 68 is sufficient to overcome resistance to the return of button 74 which might result from indented covering material `tending t0 remain in hole 76.

It is to be understood that when case 10 is provided with a lining such as 38, the material of outer covering 36 which is indented into opening 76 contacts such lining and causes it, in turn, to engage button 74 by bulging into compartment 22 sufllciently to effect the aforementioned actuation of flashlight 50.

toward battery 64) causes end It should be apparent from the foregoing that outer covering 36 not only conceals the flashlight switch mechanism but protects the same from snagging in pockets or hand bags and shields it from dirt, pocket lint and/or other extraneous matter which could interfere with proper functioning. The soft spot in shell 12 of case 10 renders the case operable, when closed, as a general purpose flashlight and/ or as means not Only for carrying keys or other utility items but for illuminating a keyhole simultaneously with the use of a key extended outwardly of the closed case on a key loop such as loop 48 illustrated in FIG.. 3.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and adaptations of the precise form of the invention here shown may be made to suit par ticular requirements. Accordingly, it is intended that such modifications which `incorporated the novel concept disclosed are to be construed as coming within the scope of the following claims or the range of equivalency to which they are entitled.

I claim:

1. The combination comprising a hard shell case having a hole in one side thereof, an outer flexible covering and an inner lining each extended over said hole, a flashlight disposed internally of said case having a switch button aligned with said hole wherein said switch button is actuable to activate said flashlight by indem-tion of said outer covering into said hole.

2. A combination case and flashlight comprising a pair of rigid shells hinged for swinging movement from an open relationship toward each other into closed relationship to form a compartment therebetween, a flashlight in said compartment carried by one of said shells, said flashlight having a switch button disposed adjacent the other of said shells when said case is closed, a hole iu said other shell aligned with said button, a flexible outer covering and an 4inner lining both extended over said hole, said inner lining being adapted to be engaged by said outer covering and forced against said button to actuate same when said outer covering is indented into said hole.

v3. lA combination `key case and flashlight comprising a pair of rigid shells hinged to swing from an open relationship toward each other to a closed relationship to form, in the latter relationship, a compartment therebetween, at least one of said shells having a notch in one edge thereof arranged to form an elongated opening into said compartment, a key hanger and a flashlight each fastened to one of said shells internally of said compartment, said key hanger and flashlight being juxtapositioned and at least partially exposed by said opening when said shell are in closed relationship, said key hanger having a complement 4of pivotal key loops each adapted to be extended through said opening and said flashlight having a light emitting one end disposed yadjacent said opening for emitting light therel through when said flashlight is activated, said flashlight having a switch button extending laterally therefrom toward an opposing shell, said opposing shell having a hole therein aligned with said button when said shells are in closed relationship, an outer flexible covering and an inner lining both extended over said hole, said inner lining being adapted to engage said switch to actuate same when fiorced theretoward by indention of said outer covering into said hole.

-4. A combination case and flashlight comprising a pair of rigid tray-shaped shells hinged together for swinging movement from and t-oward each other into opened and closed relationship such that when said shells are in closed relationship a compartment is formed therebetween, said shells each having a notch in one edge thereof, said notches being opposed to form an opening into said cornpartment when said shells are closed, a flashlight fastened to one of said shells within said compartment, said flashlight having a light-emitting one end disposed adjacent said opening for emitting light therethrough when said 5 6 ashlight is activated and a switch button extending References Cited laterally therefrom toward said other shell by means of UNITED STATES PATENTS which said flashlight may be activated when said b'u-tton is depressed, said other shell having a hole therein aligned 21229035 10/1942 Rothenberg et al- 240 41 with said switch button and outer and inner flexible cover- 5 2837630 6/1958 Shen "-7 24o-26 3,243,586 3/ 1966 !F1oravant1 24U-6.4

ings extended over Said hole, said outer c-oven'ng being indent-able into said hole toward and against said inner covering for forcing said inner covering against said switch NORTON ANSHER Pnmary Exammer button to effect activation o-f said flashlight. D. L. JACOBSON, Assistant Examiner. 

